The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will pay $5 million to widen by six inches the train boarding platform at Springfield’s Union Station to comply with federal rules for handicapped accessibility.
The Springfield Redevelopment Authority board approved the design change for the new high-level platform as part of the $88 million restoration of Union Station.
The new transportation center is scheduled to open in January, but the rail platform won’t be ready for another six months. SRA director Chris Moskal said in the meantime passengers will walk from the new terminal to an existing Amtrak waiting room to board trains.
" So , it is just going to be a minor inconvenience of a few steps," said Moskal.
Moskal said MassDOT is responsible for covering the cost overruns to redesign the rail platform.
